Together with mates Peter Gabriel, Bob Eubanks (of American game show host fame), Anthony Philililililips (aka Fishlips), and drummer whose name no one can remember anymore, Mike was a founding member of ProtoGenesis. At first, they made sappy short love songs (which they would do again after Phil Collins joined and Peter Gabriel left). However, after a heavy night of drinking an listening to King Crimson, they decided to play Prog Rock, although they did not really know what that meant.